S. Texas native set to be diplomat

A coalition of Hispanic groups on Monday applauded the Senate confirmation of two Latino presidential appointees, but urged lawmakers to push through a backlog of nominations when they return after the midterm elections.

Published 9:40 pm, Monday, October 4, 2010

WASHINGTON - A coalition of Hispanic groups on Monday applauded the Senate confirmation of two Latino presidential appointees, but urged lawmakers to push through a backlog of nominations when they return after the midterm elections.

"While Hispanics across the U.S. can today celebrate the accomplishments of Mr. Yzaguirre and Mr. Reyna, we urge the Senate to continue to make progress on nominees for other critical positions that remain vacant," said Lillian Rodríguez-López, chairwoman of the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda.

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The NHLA said the Senate has failed to confirm other Hispanics nominated by President Barack Obama for important administration and judicial posts.

Michael Camuñez of California awaits confirmation to be assistant secretary of commerce, as does Mary Murguía of Arizona, who is nominated to fill a vacancy on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Albert Diaz in North Carolina was nominated a year ago for an opening on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Obama has nominated Laredo lawyer Marina Garcia Marmolejo and U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Saldaña of Laredo for two open federal judgeships in the Southern Judicial District of Texas.

Texas has seven vacant federal judgeships, with five seats in the border region where caseloads are highest because of narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration.

Democrats in the Texas congressional delegation, as well as the state's two Republican senators, are working with the White House to help the president nominate qualified people to fill those posts.

The Senate approved the nomination of Yzaguirre, the former president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza, to be U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republic.

The Senate voted unanimously to confirm several pending nominees before it recessed to campaign for the Nov. 2 midterm elections.

Yzaguirre was born and raised in San Juan, in the Rio Grande Valley.

A lifelong civil rights activist, Yzaguirre served as president of NCLR, the nation's largest Hispanic rights organization, from 1978 to 2004.

"Ambassador Yzaguirre is well-recognized and deeply respected by U.S. presidents and international heads of state as a civil rights leader with more than 50 years of service to our country," said Janet Murguía, NCLR president and CEO.

Rodríguez-López cited Yzaguirre's accomplishments in applauding the president and the Senate for the nomination and confirmation.

She said his years "of dedication to our country and to the Hispanic community make him uniquely qualified to bring American leadership to such a crucial part of the world."

The NHLA is a coalition of 30 Hispanic organizations established to raise awareness to issues in the Latino community.